Dechra Veterinary Products has published a range of case studies to support its new campaign focused on the diagnosis and treatment of otitis externa.

The studies have been written by Referral Dermatologist Sue Paterson MA, VetMB, DVD, DipECVD, MRCVS, RCVS European Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology and Peter Forsythe BVM&S, DVD, MRCVS, RVCS Specialist in Veterinary Dermatology.

Developed as part of the Time to Change campaign, the real-life examples feature a series of problems and solutions associated with otitis, supported by clear images and photomicrographs.

Larry King, Senior Brand Manager, Dechra Veterinary Products, said: "We have created a range of in-depth case study materials for use by vets and vet nurses which will support identification and management of otitis externa, one of the more frequent conditions seen in general practice.

"As veterinary professionals are aware, otitis is common and can be challenging to diagnose and treat. These studies address individual cases and demonstrate how the Dechra dermatology range can be used effectively.

"Topics covered in the case studies include the types of otitis presented by each animal, how individual organisms were identified using cytology and how long treatment was continued."

The case studies, which feature Malassezia, staphylococcal and Proteus infections, also discuss the underlying causes and steps taken after treatment with Canaural and various ear cleaners.

The Time to Change campaign has been launched to support a best practice approach to otitis which includes the identification of the organisms causing infection through cytology, support the selection of the correct treatment and assist with educating clients on how to apply and use products correctly.

For further information visit www.dechra.com/timetochange. The website also highlights the benefits of Dechra Veterinary Products' range of topical treatments and ear flushes, including Canaural, CleanAural, CerumAurual, TrizAural and MalAceticAural.

Owners of hyperthyroid cats say they would rather veterinary surgeons prescribed the appropriate dosage for their pets than have an easy way to administer the medicine, according to new research carried out by feline expert Dr Sarah Caney BVSc PhD DSAM (Feline) MRCVS.

111 cat owners were questioned for the research, which was supported by Dechra Veterinary Products and has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

Dechra says the results of the study challenge long-held perceptions, and should encourage a reappraisal of the approach to oral anti-thyroid medication:

89% of cat owners agreed with the statement that it 'was more important to me that the vet prescribes the most appropriate dose for my cat than that they provide me with an easy method of administering the medicine.'

Dr Caney said: "The survey has shown that cat owners are not a barrier to prescribing twice daily medication. Their overwhelming drive is to provide the best level of care that they can.

"From an owner perspective, the ideal anti-thyroid medication offers low doses and a variety of dosing strategies to ensure that each individual cat receives the dose they need and no more."

The findings revealed that 'once daily treatment' was not ranked as the most important statement on dosing by any of the owners and that only 21% of owners who had experienced oral dosing of their cat described the process as either 'tricky' or 'very difficult'.

Craig Sankey, Brand Manager for Felimazole at Dechra Veterinary Products, said: "We are very pleased to have supported such an important piece of independent research relating to feline hyperthyroidism which challenges some of the assumptions made about owner needs.

"Ease of administering the medicine is not the overwhelming issue for owners of cats with hyperthyroidism - administering the correct dose is. In fact, 79 % of cat owners questioned were happy to give pills twice a day if necessary."

To see the latest research in full, please visit www.dechra.co.uk/hyperthyroidism

Veterinary surgeons who conduct consultations on senior dog preventative healthcare treatment are being asked to take part in a BSAVA PetSavers Old Age Pets survey to shape the development of a guidance tool to support the care of senior dogs.

BSAVA PetSavers is funding a research project at the University of Liverpool designed to help vets and owners provide the best care for senior and geriatric dogs.

In the first part of the study, veterinary professionals were interviewed about the services currently provided to senior dogs and their owners regarding preventative healthcare, treatment, and advice.

Owners were interviewed about their experiences of living with and accessing veterinary care for senior dogs.

The results of these interviews were then used to develop the online survey which researchers now need vets to take part in, to validate the interview findings in a quantitative way.

Dr Carri Westgarth said: “The veterinary survey focuses on the perceived barriers to care for senior dogs, end-of-life care including quality-of-life, and the potential design of the BSAVA PetSavers guidance tool.

"We would be grateful if any veterinary professional could take a few minutes from their day to help us with this project.” 

The survey should take around 20–25 minutes to complete. 

Survey participants will also have the opportunity to win an Amazon voucher. 

The survey can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/PetsaversOAPVetSurvey.

The British Veterinary Association has produced a series of expert videos to help employers and employees with the disciplinary process.

The five short videos, which can be accessed free on vets.tv as part of the BVA membership package, talk employers through the procedures they must follow to ensure it is a fair process. The videos also advise employees on how to approach the process including guidance on how much time employees should have to look at the evidence on which the disciplinary is based.

The videos use case studies to show what the particular stages in the disciplinary process mean, what they involve and how to prepare for them.

Robin Hargreaves, Chair of the BVA Members Services Group, said: "Many have already downloaded the videos which are short and easy to follow, arming members with the knowledge they need to prepare for the difficult journey through the disciplinary process.

"There is evidently a need for such information and I hope members of the veterinary team check the whole range of free employment resources BVA members can access before paying for external legal advice - it might not be needed."

The videos are available at http://www.bva.co.uk/vetsTv/2792.aspx, the downloadable guides at http://www.bva.co.uk/guides and legal services at http://www.bva.co.uk/legal.

A new study, published in the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ)¹ has concluded that whilst horse owners are increasingly looking to vets for worm control advice and use faecal worm egg counts more frequently, they remain largely unaware of the threat of resistance to dewormers and the importance of appropriate 'targeted' dosing.

The authors of the study say that although the findings are encouraging, they indicate that further effort is needed to help owners fully understand the issue of dewormer resistance, in order to help preserve the efficacy of dewormers currently available and protect the health and welfare of their horses.

According to the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), resistance of equine gastrointestinal worms to the currently available dewormers is a serious problem. The association says small redworm are the greatest concern, given their very high prevalence, potential to cause life-threatening disease and high levels of resistance. Of the three classes of anthelmintic available for their control, there is now widespread resistance to benzimidazoles (e.g. fenbendazole) and tetrahydropyrimidines (e.g. pyrantel) and reduced effectiveness of macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin and moxidectin). With no new classes of dewormer on the horizon, it's essential that efficacy of existing effective products is preserved.

The study was conducted by a UK team, led by Claire Stratford, Horse Trust Clinical Scholar in Equine Medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, and at Moredun Research Institute. The collaborators were also supported by funding from the Elise Pilkington Trust and Horserace Betting Levy Board.

The study examined equine helminth control practices in Scotland, and was based on responses from 193 questionnaires detailing the parasite control programmes of 993 horses and ponies. The results demonstrated a lack of awareness of the significance of dewormer resistance, with 86% of respondents stating that they were unaware of the presence of resistance on their yard. The majority were relatively unconcerned about dewormer resistance, assigning a score of only 6/10 (with 10 representing highest level of concern) when asked to grade how important they perceived it to be.

On a more positive note, many respondents stated that they involved their vet in planning control strategies. Faecal worm egg count (FWEC) analysis had been performed on 62% of yards and annual treatment frequency had been reduced accordingly. The macrocyclic lactones or related combination products were the most commonly administered products; however, owners did have misconceptions regarding the specific worms they should be targeting.

Although treatments licensed for use against encysted small redworm larvae were administered by 80% of respondents, only 57% perceived that they treated for this parasite stage. Similarly, only 78% of respondents believed they were treating for tapeworm when, in fact, 90% reported using a product licensed for tapeworm treatment.

While responses indicated increased implementation of strategic (44% respondents) or targeted control (40% respondents), variations in the apparent influence of the targeted approach on treatment practices suggested some confusion over this term. Claire Stratford said: "Targeted dosing involves using regular FWEC analysis to identify an individual's egg shedding level. This is currently considered best practice, when used in conjunction with annual dosing against encysted small redworm and tapeworm. The survey indicates a need for continued knowledge transfer, together with a consistent definition of 'targeted' treatment."

Professor Celia Marr, Editor of Equine Veterinary Journal said: "It's very encouraging to see that vet advice is being increasingly sought and it seems logical that the use of FWECs is rising accordingly. But, it is equally important that the information gained from the FWECs is used wisely. Resistance to dewormers is a major health concern that is with us right now and horse owners need to be made more aware of it."

Reference

1. A questionnaire study of equine gastrointestinal parasite control in Scotland CH Stratford, HE Lester, ER Morgan, KJ Pickles, V Relf, BC McGorum, JB Matthews

A new long acting sheep injection has been launched by Fort Dodge Animal Health which the company says will offer significant benefits to sheep farmers for both internal and external parasite control.  

Cydectin 2% LA for sheep is the latest product to join the Cydectin range and follows the long acting injection for cattle.

Based on Moxidectin, the product delivers a long action against worms, up to 111 days and scab, 60 days from a single injection.

Andrew Wylie from Fort Dodge said: "To put this into context, apart from the existing Cydectin range which lasts up to 35 days, no other product is licensed with persistent activity against worms and scab. Cydectin 2% LA for sheep offers three times the worm cover and double the scab cover from a single injection.

"Therefore farmers will benefit from Cydectin 2% LA through the combination of a single injection with extended persistency leading to a reduction in the number of treatments needed for worms and scab and the potential increase in lamb weight gain due to a lower worm and scab challenge."

Fort Dodge recommends the following three key uses for Cydectin 2% LA given the persistent effect and single shot:

• Worm control for ewes in the spring. This will reduce the spring rise of worm eggs from ewes, protecting the lambs and may well lead to a reduction in the number of lamb treatments needed.
• One shot scab prevention or treatment. The persistency will provide a lengthy protection against re-infestation from scab mites and will provide a massive boost in the fight against scab within a single shot.
• Quarantine treatment of incoming sheep against potentially resistant worms and scab mites. Moxidectin has the lowest resistance status of all wormers and with high potency it provides the best option for quarantine treating.

 Administration is by a single sub-cutaneous injection high up the neck at the base of the ear which is designed to limit the withhold period to 104 days. The technique is not difficult and, if used with the multidose applicator supplied, farmers will find it a straightforward procedure.

 Cydectin 2% LA is available in 50ml, 200ml and 500ml bottles and with a dose rate of 1ml per 20kg, a 500ml pack will treat 200 sheep at 50kg. For further, call Fort Dodge on 01489 781711.

Cat Professional is carrying out a survey to assess the use of Zylkène in cats with idiopathic cystitis (FIC), and is looking for owners whose cats are using the treatment to complete an online survey.

Zylkène is a nutritional supplement which has been reported to have positive effects in managing stress in cats and dogs. Zylkène is commonly used for reduction of stress in cats with FIC.

Veterinary practices that agree to help Cat Professional recruit clients whose FIC cats are receiving Zylkène will receive:

• A print copy of our book 'Caring for a cat with lower urinary tract disease' by Dr Sarah Caney and Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore  
• A supply of flyers to hand out to owners eligible to participate in the survey. The flyer will explain the purpose of the survey and how owners can access it. In return for completing the survey, owners will receive a complimentary electronic copy of our book on FLUTD.

On completion of the survey, participants will receive a free electronic copy of the book 'Caring for a cat with lower urinary tract disease'.

For more information on the study, please visit our website: http://www.catprofessional.com.

The survey is accessible from the home page or directly at http://www.catprofessional.com/urinary-survey.html

Princess Anne has officially opened the Large Animal Clinical Facilities at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey.

The new facilities use teaching aids and models to allow students to refine their practical skills and build confidence before being let loose on real patients. 

As part of the official opening, Princess Anne toured the School of Veterinary Medicine, where she met with staff and students and saw a demonstration of a new equine gut model that offers an alternative to using live animals for research into the gut microbiota of horses and how they are affected by diet, disease and medication.

Professor Chris Proudman, Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine, said: "We are honoured to welcome The Princess Royal to the Vet School today, and very grateful that Her Royal Highness has officially opened the Large Animal Clinical Skills Facilities. Preparing students for life as a vet is our number one priority; the hands-on experience they will get through the use of this facility is invaluable and enables them to give the best possible care to all animals.

"We are also very grateful to the Longhurst family, without whom these teaching resources would not have been possible – their generosity is helping us to teach the vets of the future."

Changes to the registration procedure for veterinary surgeons, which are being put forward for approval by the Privy Council, have caused some concern in the profession.

Most contentious is the new requirement for veterinary surgeons to confirm their contact details annually, or face removal from the register.

Judging from the remarks in the VetSurgeon forums, many in the profession see this as just another example of bureaucratic-big-brother-pen-pushing-time-wasting (a perception that probably hasn't been helped by the RCVS stating that the change is driven by the need to meet EU Directive 2006/123/EC). Nor would Lynne Hill's remarks have done anything to calm the situation. She said: "If that [the requirement for vets to confirm their address once a year] is beyond the wit and the capability of supposed professional people that we expect to follow a guide to professional conduct, to act as professionals in everything that they do, then I really despair of this profession.

"I do not see anything wrong with the College asking people to confirm their address year in, year out when they make a payment. And if those people cannot be responsible for doing that then they deserve to go forward to be taken off the Register because, if they can't do that, God only knows what else they may well be doing in their professional lives!"

At face value, it's completely understandable why the new regulation was bound to get members' backs up. I mean, the threat of losing your license to practise because you didn't confirm something which hasn't changed anyway. It's a bit extreme isn't it?

The truth of the matter is probably a little more prosaic:

• It'll be a question of just ticking a box: 'I confirm these are my current contact details', or words to that effect, on the new RCVS website (when it arrives). The point is that it'll only take a second or two.
• The reality is that removal from the register is very much the action of last resort. The Veterinary Surgeons Act requires that the RCVS gives at least 6 months for a return on a confirmation before removing a member from the register. 
• There is also a new requirement to make an annual declaration of how many hours CPD has been completed. That seems a perfectly sensible requirement, in line with many other professions. The point is, you'll have to be in touch with the RCVS anyway, so is it really such a big deal to confirm your contact details simultaneously? 

At present, many members pay registration fees by standing order, and may never have updated their contact details. You could argue that it is only right that the authority changed with regulating veterinary surgeons knows how to get hold of them. If a consequence of this is also that the RCVS is able to work more efficiently and cost-effectively (apart from anything else, it shouldn't have to spend so much time tracking down and chasing non-payers), then so much the better.

A group at the Royal Veterinary College is conducting a landmark survey investigate the veterinary profession's approach to patient safety, and the degree to which lessons are learned from mistakes. 

The survey, believed to be the first of its type, is being conducted by MRes student Mark Turner MRCVS (pictured above right), under the direction of Martin Whiting and Elizabeth Armitage-Chan. It's based on a tool used in the human health care sector to monitor care quality in hospitals and G.P surgeries.

All veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and practice managers in small animal practice are invited to complete the survey, which is confidential and has received research ethics approval from the RVC.

Mark said: "We believe this survey could represent a significant milestone in the profession's understanding of patient safety. This topic is still in its infancy in our industry, but there is already evidence to suggest we lag some way behind the NHS in our application of important safety principles such as openness and 'learning'.

Without this sort of safety culture, the profession risks missing important opportunities to improve quality and safety for the animals in it's care. One of the questions we would like to answer is: 'When mistakes occur in practice, are lessons routinely being learnt to prevent the same thing from happening again?' 

He added: "In the NHS this subject has received a lot of media coverage after stories like the Bristol heart scandal and the enquiry into Mid Staffs Hospital. And our health system now understands that patient safety relies on a whole organisation effort to maintain standards. What we don't know however is how well we are doing in this regard."

Please do take take some time to complete the survey, and SHARE this story with your colleagues (buttons below). It's an important piece of work that should really benefit the profession. You can also discuss the project with Mark here.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VetPatientSafety

Pfizer Animal Health has launched a new range of diabetes support materials, including a DVD, post-prescription leaflet and home recording chart for owners of diabetic cats and dogs; a vet detailer, poster and blood glucose monitoring chart for the practice.

The company says that diabetes is on the increase in pets, as the level of obesity in cats and dogs escalates. Current estimates put the disease prevalence at 0.32% in the dog population¹ with similar levels suggested for cats with some being as high as 1 in 100². With increasing economic pressures and busy lifestyles, many owners are reluctant to take on the challenge of a diabetic pet, yet most pets respond extremely well to treatment.

Susan Mitchell, Insuvet® Product Manager at Pfizer Animal Health, believes that communication is key: "Helping owners to understand that treatment need not be difficult and that routines can be flexible enough to fit in with their lifestyles is critical. Time and time again it has been shown that cost is not always the primary consideration when it comes to treating the pet that is viewed as a much loved member of the family.

"Ensuring that owners understand exactly what will be expected of them is likely to be pivotal to the success of diabetes management than might first be assumed. Our new range of support material focuses on that need and takes the owner right the way through the process, from that initial diagnosis when decisions hang in the balance, to improving compliance by providing all the tools necessary for effective day to day management of the disease."

The new support materials include a DVD that explains all that clients need to know about the condition. This, says Pfizer, is the ideal choice after initial diagnosis, to reinforce and support the dialogue that takes place in the clinic environment. Shock, fear and confusion may mean that many owners will simply fail to take in all that their vet has to tell them after the initial diagnosis. This, in turn may prevent the owner from making an objective decision about their pet's future. 

Once emotions have settled the client can watch the DVD in their own home, start to approach the future more rationally and decide what adaptations may have to be made. A post prescription leaflet is available to provide reassurance about the daily routine of monitoring a diabetic pet and a home recording chart to aid long-term compliance.

Of course, diabetic patients can be just as challenging in the practice environment so a comprehensive vet detailer is available along with blood glucose monitoring charts, a poster detailing what to do in a keto-acidotic emergency, a veterinary nurse discharging list and a clinic letter.

For further information on the Insuvet® range or to request support materials for diabetic clinics or individual patients, vets and nurses should contact their Pfizer Business Account Manager. For any technical questions about the Insuvet range call the Pfizer Animal Health Technical Support Line on 0845 3008034.

Research carried out by the Kennel Club to coincide with the start of Open for Dogs Week has found that 40% of British people think dogs are a happy alternative to having children.

One reason for this is perhaps because 25% of respondents said that a dog would fit more easily with their lifestyle than a child. Or maybe it's partly because 25% said that whilst their children always come first, they prefer to do things with their dog.

In addition, 80% said their dog is attentive and loving when out and about, compared to only 50% who said the same is true of their other half.

However, despite the central place that dogs hold in their owners' hearts, the Kennel Club says many people experience difficulty taking their dogs out and about, particularly to restaurants. In the survey, 40% said that they have problems finding a place where their dog is welcome while they eat, and almost 50% said that they'd like to see a wider variety of restaurants open their doors to dogs.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: "This research proves what a well loved member of the family a dog is. Given how much we love spending time with our dogs, it is surprising that there are still so many businesses that refuse to allow dogs in their premises, but there is a real appetite for this to change.

"The Kennel Club's Open for Dogs website lists more than 26,000 places throughout the UK and Europe that allow dogs inside, which makes it easier for dog owners to plan days out and holidays without having to leave their dogs behind.

"During Open for Dogs Week we are asking businesses, whether it is a restaurant, hotel, pub, shop or office, to trial a dog friendly policy. There are more than eight million dogs in the UK, so those that get involved will be appealing to a massive customer base, which can only be a good thing in tough economic times."

The Kennel Club's Open for Dogs Week runs from 20-26 August 2012 and businesses and public places are encouraged to adopt a dog friendly policy for well behaved dogs.

To nominate your favourite dog friendly venue or town for the Kennel Club's Open for Dogs Awards, visit www.openfordogs.org.uk. The deadline for nominations is 31^st August.

The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) and the International Federation for Animal Health Europe (IFAH) have welcomed the European Commission's publication of proposals for revised legislation concerning veterinary medicines and medicated feed earlier today.

The EC says the proposals are designed to increase the availability of veterinary medicines, reduce administrative burden, stimulate competitiveness and innovation, improve the functioning of the internal market and address the issue of antimicrobial resistance.

NOAH says that currently, the manufacturers of veterinary medicines struggle with a regulatory system with some serious flaws, including:

• A highly segmented internal market and regulatory framework characterised by high product development and licence maintenance costs, limiting availability particularly in smaller markets and for minor species,
• Insufficient protection of intellectual property which stifles investment in innovation,
• A disproportionately high administrative burden which diverts funds and expertise away from new product development and risks depriving animals of modern medicines and treatment options.

NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley said: "NOAH will be looking at the detail of the texts in the coming days and weeks, and reviewing their potential impact. We look forward to working with the VMD, who have called stakeholder workshops to examine the texts. We will also be supporting our European federation IFAH-Europe as they work determinedly with the European institutions over the coming years to support the Commission's vision for a more efficient regulatory system for veterinary medicines in Europe.

"We believe the value our industry brings to society is very high, despite being quite a small sector. For example, veterinary medicines benefit public health by preventing zoonotic disease and supporting food security.

"With synergies with our own UK Government's commitment to reduce unnecessary red tape, which is a key theme for DEFRA, the animal health industry in Europe needs greater efficiency to cut the red tape for our industry. We look forward to a streamlined registration process which delivers a single European marketing authorisation for all veterinary medicines.

"We will also be considering if the text has any particular implications for the UK animal health market and access to medicines for our animals."

NOAH says it also welcomes the revised medicated feed legislation. Phil Sketchley said: "NOAH believes this is an important route for administering prescription medicines to animals. We will work to help ensure the legislation is capable of maintaining and strengthening this route."